YEMEN CHILDREN RENEWS PROTEST AL-HOUTHI-RELATED CHILD ABUSE

SANA'A, Nov. 18 (Saba) - For the second time, tens of Yemeni children marched on Wednesday to the UNICEF office in Sana'a protesting against al-Houthi-related child abuse.

During a meeting with UNICEF representative in Sana'a Aboudou Karimou Adjibadé, child Daoud Ali Sabbar, on behalf of all children, read a letter from Yemen's children to UNICEF, reiterating their rights to live and to be protected from all forms of violence and protected from being abused in sabotage and terrorist acts, forbidden by all international treaties and Yemeni laws.

They affirmed their support to the state commitment to the international conventions concerned in child rights.

Adjibadé accentuated the UNICEF commitment to protect all children including Yemen's, saying that he would convey their letter to the General Secretary of United Nations (UN) and the International Commission for Child Rights.

We will attract the international community's attention to the situation in Yemen, the UNICEF official said, calling the conflict parties to respect the rights of children, women and elderly.

He praised the Yemen's children enthusiasm and their keenness on their rights, hailing the efforts of Shawthab Association for Childhood, the organizer of the event.

The first demonstration was on Tuesday, as over 400 Yemeni children walked to the UNDP's office in Sana'a in protest against child abuse in the far north.

The children delivered a letter to the UN Secretary General condemning using children for subversion and terrorism by the Houthi rebels who have been fighting the troops since 2004.

Many reports appeared amid the sixth war between the army and the rebels saying underage fighters were seized and killed in the clashes. They were forced and used by the insurgents as military operations intensified against them killing most tough rebel fighters.

AF/AF